Museveni Welcomes IOC Chief, Praises Refugee Olympic Team

President Yoweri Museveni has lauded the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) initiative to involve refugees in global sports during a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach at State House, Entebbe. The meeting, attended by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni, focused on the Refugee Olympic Team, an initiative empowering talented refugees through sports.

“I’m very happy with this initiative. It will help empower talented refugees to excel,” Museveni stated, acknowledging the significance of the team in integrating refugees into global sports competitions.

Museveni also invited international athletes to train in Uganda, citing the country's favorable altitude conditions. “We have built a higher altitude training center that could help athletes learn how to economize oxygen,” he said, encouraging other nations to utilize Uganda's facilities.

The President reaffirmed Uganda's commitment to supporting refugees, explaining that the country offers a progressive refugee policy that allows refugees to integrate into society and engage in business. However, he urged international organizations to provide additional support, particularly in logistics such as food and education, as Uganda continues to host a significant refugee population.

Janet Museveni highlighted Uganda’s long-standing commitment to the Olympic movement since joining the IOC in 1954, expressing pride in the nation’s progress in sports and its young athletes' achievements on the international stage. She also praised the IOC's efforts to uplift refugee communities through sports initiatives.

Mr. Bach emphasized that the Refugee Olympic Team symbolizes hope and raises global awareness about the ongoing refugee crisis. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Mustapha Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).